Hindus claim the site of the Babri Masjid is the birthplace of their deity, Ram, and want to build a temple there.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm. In a statement, he said: "My appeal to all sections of the people is to maintain peace and tranquility and to show respect for all religions and religious beliefs in the highest traditions of Indian culture."

The court ruled that the site should be split, with the Muslim community getting control of a third, Hindus another third and the remainder going to a minority Hindu sect, Nirmohi Akhara, which was one of the early litigants in the case.

Long-running Ayodhya dispute

Centres on land 130ft (40m) x 90ft (27m) where mosque stood

Court cases over the issue date back to 1949 - so far 18 judges have heard the case

1992 report blamed Hindu nationalist politicians for role in the mosque demolition

Key issue is whether the temple was demolished on the orders of Mughal emperor Babur in 1528

Other questions are whether the mosque was built according to Islamic law and whether idols were put inside it by Hindus in 1949

It said that the current status of the site should continue for the next three months to allow the land to be peacefully measured and divided.

The Hindus will keep the area where a small tent-shrine to Ram has been erected, lawyers said.

"The majority ruled that the location of the makeshift temple is the birthplace of Ram, and this spot cannot be shifted," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, a lawyer for one of the parties to the suit.

'No-one's victory'

Both Hindu and Muslim lawyers say they will appeal against the ruling in the 60-year-old case to the Supreme Court, which is likely to delay a final decision still further.

"We have to study the judgement in details," said Zafaryab Jilani, lawyer for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

Eyewitness

By Sanjoy MajumderBBC News, Ayodhya

Ayodhya is calm after the verdict was delivered. There is still a heavy security presence. Police armed with automatic rifles and wearing riot gear can be seen everywhere. They are asking everyone to stay indoors, remain calm and not react to the verdict.

Many people are standing on their balconies or the roofs of their homes, taking in the scene. Some flash a victory sign but otherwise the mood is subdued.

The disputed site is heavily guarded, its entrance behind barricades. These restrictions will stay in place since the legal battle is still not over. But many people here say they want to move on and above all want peace.

"It's an 8,500-page order. The court has said a status quo will be maintained at the site for three months so we have time to appeal in the Supreme Court."

He told the BBC: "We hope peace and tranquility will be maintained."

The head of the right-wing Hindu group Rashtriya Samajsevak Sangh, Mohan Bhagwat, said: "It is no-one's victory, no-one's defeat.

"The temple for Lord Ram should be built; now everyone should work unitedly to ensure that the temple is built at the site."

Nearly 200,000 security personnel were deployed across northern India to quell any unrest in the wake of the verdict.

However, there have been no reports of violence so far.

Some Muslims have given a cautious welcome to the judgement, suggesting it could begin a process of reconciliation, says the BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Delhi.

Correspondents say the Ayodhya ruling could not have come at a worse time for the authorities - they already have their hands full dealing with security preparations for the Delhi Commonwealth Games which begin on Sunday.